Is my girl really happy?

[Dan Angelis]

Okay so I have a girl piggie who I adopted two years ago, at first I thought that she was all skittish because she was new and all so I give her time to calm down and settle in, but years has passed and she is still the same. Sure she does let me pet her here and there but after I pull my hand away she will run off to hide again, now I don’t have a problem with this with my male I adopted him when he was like 2 months so he got pretty used to me real fast, and now I adopted a new baby who is 10 months and she is still afraid so I’m letting her get settled in but I noticed that even tho I had the baby for like 3 or 4 days ago she is really calm and exploring my room. But back to my main girl she will also never never leave her hutch even if the other two are exploring, she will also freeze if I put her in the ground outside her hutch, and I’m really worried, like am I doing everything for her? How do I know if she is actually happy leaving with me? She is already 4 years old and I would feel really guilty if she died and I never knew if she is happy or not.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[sport_billy]

She is gorgeous

Is she living with a friend or on her own at moment?

 

[Wiebke]

Okay so I have a girl piggie who I adopted two years ago, at first I thought that she was all skittish because she was new and all so I give her time to calm down and settle in, but years has passed and she is still the same. Sure she does let me pet her here and there but after I pull my hand away she will run off to hide again, now I don’t have a problem with this with my male I adopted him when he was like 2 months so he got pretty used to me real fast, and now I adopted a new baby who is 10 months and she is still afraid so I’m letting her get settled in but I noticed that even tho I had the baby for like 3 or 4 days ago she is really calm and exploring my room. But back to my main girl she will also never never leave her hutch even if the other two are exploring, she will also freeze if I put her in the ground outside her hutch, and I’m really worried, like am I doing everything for her? How do I know if she is actually happy leaving with me? She is already 4 years old and I would feel really guilty if she died and I never knew if she is happy or not.

Sorry for the long post.

Hi!

Hopefully the baby will eventually bring her out more.

You may find our piggy whispering tips and advice on how to avoid triggering her various high alert prey animal instincts in the links below helpful. Piggies born to very stressed mothers can internalise this stress and have it as a default setting. It can take years to settle them down; and they will never really turn into confident cuddly piggies. Being on her own and 'lost' has unfortunately rather had the effect of reinforcing this.
But there are many other ways to socialise with your piggies than the narrow definition of cuddly pets and to build up a relationship.
Give your new arrival time to settle in and create a group with your girl; it won't be an instant process!

Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Dan Angelis]

She is gorgeous

Is she living with a friend or on her own at moment?

She is living with two other piggies

 

[Dan Angelis]

Hi!

Hopefully the baby will eventually bring her out more.

You may find our piggy whispering tips and advice on how to avoid triggering her various high alert prey animal instincts in the links below helpful. Piggies born to very stressed mothers can internalise this stress and have it as a default setting. It can take years to settle them down; and they will never really turn into confident cuddly piggies. Being on her own and 'lost' has unfortunately rather had the effect of reinforcing this.
But there are many other ways to socialise with your piggies than the narrow definition of cuddly pets and to build up a relationship.
Give your new arrival time to settle in and create a group with your girl; it won't be an instant process!

Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Thanks! I’ll keep that so I can read it. But I just wish how to know if she is truly happy living with me and her roommates

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks! I’ll keep that so I can read it. But I just wish how to know if she is truly happy living with me and her roommates

Since it is impossible to ask your directly, you have to often rely on very subtle signs which we cannot observe by remote - unless your girl does popcorn, which adult sows don't necessarily do.

But once she has settled down with her new companions, I am sure that she will feel more alive and stimulated; and she is feeling loved by you. You often only realise the depth of trust and love from a piggy when they totally rely on you during a severe illness; and it can leave you humbled.

 

[Dan Angelis]

Since it is impossible to ask your directly, you have to often rely on very subtle signs which we cannot observe by remote - unless your girl does popcorn, which adult sows don't necessarily do.

But once she has settled down with her new companions, I am sure that she will feel more alive and stimulated; and she is feeling loved by you. You often only realise the depth of trust and love from a piggy when they totally rely on you during a severe illness; and it can leave you humbled.

I have had her for two years so I thought that at this point she was settled in she had never popcorn but she is 4 years after all